Srinagar, Oct 2 (KNS): The Group of Concerned Citizens J&K (GCC) on Friday raised a series of environmental and civic concerns with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, warning against increasing pressure on the Union Territory’s fragile natural resources, particularly water bodies, in the name of development.

A GCC delegation led by its chairman Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, former Advisor to the J&K Governor, met the Chief Secretary and presented a policy paper titled “Srinagar Declaration on Natural Environment in Jammu & Kashmir”, the group said in a statement.

The delegation sought greater safeguards for J&K’s natural environment while planning and executing development projects.

Frequent amendments to the Urban Building Byelaws over the past two years were among the key issues raised, with GCC seeking an independent expert appraisal of the changes as well as the recently notified land pooling policy.

The group said urban planning should take into account J&K’s natural environment, heritage and cultural characteristics rather than adopting standardised designs without considering local requirements.

GCC also objected to the identification of what it described as a “known flood basin” at Nowgam for development of an industrial estate, alleging that the proposal violated the Srinagar Master Plan. It demanded that the proposed industrial estate be shelved.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The delegation also sought a review of the freeze on teacher recruitment and filling of vacant posts of doctors, specialists and consultants in the Health Services Department, besides faculty vacancies in government medical and dental colleges.

On Srinagar’s transport infrastructure, GCC called for integration of City Mobility Plans with proposed flyover projects, improved traffic regulation and management, widening of city roads and removal of bottlenecks.

It sought assigning the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) responsibility for conservation of Anchar Lake and unprotected lagoons.

The group also called for conservation of heritage sites, including the Shergarhi Complex, Pathar Masjid and Budshah Mausoleum, besides reintegration of city channels including Kuta Khol, Chuent Khol and Sonar Khol into flood mitigation planning.

GCC further sought appropriate utilisation of the GB Pant Hospital infrastructure, which it said had remained abandoned for the past four years.

The group also appealed for making the administration more responsive to public concerns.

Dulloo appreciated GCC’s efforts in raising issues of public importance and grievances from time to time and assured appropriate action on the matters raised, the statement said.

Administrative Secretaries and senior officials of the departments concerned also attended the meeting. (KNS)